What is it like to coach the Wellington Phoenix? A Football Manager diary - part 3

stuff.co.nz:

What would it be like to coach the Wellington Phoenix? Simulation video game Football Manager 22 gives you a chance to find out. Stuff reporter Ben Strang charts his time in the hot seat.

Well, that was humiliating.

A 5-2 thrashing in my first match in charge is not how I saw things going when I walked out of the tunnel for the first time.

Thankfully, the next game arrived in just two days, against Western United. There was no time to dwell. I dropped fullbacks Louis Fenton and James McGarry, and brought in Sam Sutton and Callan Elliot. I want the players to know there are consequences for poor performances, although I admit to some trepidation about picking Sutton, now knowing his middle name is Harrry, with three R’s.

We don’t give them a single chance in the 90 minutes. Ben Waine comes off the bench for David Ball and is superb, providing the assist for Gary Hooper’s winning goal.

* What is it like to coach the Wellington Phoenix? A Football Manager diary - part 1 * What is it like to coach the Wellington Phoenix? A Football Manager diary - part 2 * Wellington Phoenix's back-up goalkeeper Alex Paulsen on his FFA Cup heroics * Covid-19 outbreak in Wellington Phoenix squad results in multiple postponements * Wellington Phoenix sign former Manchester United defender Scott Wootton

I was still concerned about our attacking endeavour – we didn’t create enough chances – and the team showed why in our third match, another against Western Sydney Wanderers because the A-League’s schedulers are a weird bunch.

We lost 2-0 despite another strong defensive showing, with Western Sydney scoring from their only two shots on target. That was two more than we managed.

Rob Morrison and the board are furious. I’m told during a midweek